Container for pharmaceutical purposes



llg 23, 1938- G. P. HOFMANN 2,127,918`

CONTAINER FOR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES Filed Aug. 24, 1933 f lf- Y I intentar Aug. 23, 193s PATENT OFFICE CONTAINER FOR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPO SES Gustav Philip Hofmann, New york, N. Y.

Application August 2i, i933, Serial No. 686,528

lll Claims.

My invention relates to containers generally and more specifically to a container which by virtue of novel configuration and other characteristics is peculiarly adaptable to certain uses.

lt is the present practice of dispensers of pharmaceutical preparations to use more or less standard containers for their products, the par ticular form of which although varying in shape with the quantity of preparation dispensed, seldom, if ever, gives any indication of the nature of the contents except insofar as visible markings required to be placed on the outside thereof tend to serve such purpose.

The above is true of many preparations which `could be named such as disiniectants, expensive perfumes, etc., but, mre particularly of medicinal preparations which are specic for certain diseases but when taken, either accidentally or otherwise, in a manner different from that prescribed usually involve very serious if not fatal results. Such preparations as a class are generally referred to as poisons.

The danger accompanying the use of such preparations by the public has been recognized and as a result the visible markings above referred to are now required in most countries by law and the form of the label affixed to the outside of the container gives warning that serious consequencies may result from any misuse of the contents. Such a label isv suflicient in the case oi the prudent individual, but' serves little or no purpose when a thoughtless or shortsightecl person inadvertently picks up a container so marked when seeking a similarly shaped one containing a difierent preparation, and administers the contents without realizing that the mistake has been mada it will be understood that in rase t'lne label is removed or displaced, no Warning whatever is given as to the nature of the contents.

inasmuch as poisons as a class are more coinu mohly dispensed in small quantities, in vials made of glass or other material or small bottles, it is not surprising that mistakes are often made and that despite extensive precautionary measures,

death due to accidental poisoning is extremely prevalent. 'llhat containers used for poisons are so ,similar in all respects, except for the use of the above labels, to containers used for entirely harmless preparations, as not to be positively discernible from them under all conditions is thought to be a factor contributing largely to such accidental deaths.

' it is therefore an object of thev present invention to prevent such deaths in the future by providing a distinct and conspicuous container for use for the abovepurposes which by its unique configuration unmistakablyindicates the nature of the contents to any user.

Another object of my invention resides in the provision of a container of the type above reierred-to, which is not only positively discernible so that the contents may be readily recognized, but is not susceptible of being used in an inadvertent manner.

A further object of my invention resides in the provision of a container of the above nature which is dimcult iil not impossible to separate from a surface upon which it rests, so that the fact that it is of a particular type containing poisonous or other substances will be brought to the attention of any person desiring to make use of. the contents thereof beiore access to the same may be had.

Another object of the present invention isto obtain the above results and advantages in a container adaptable for use for the above purposes in which -the exterior thereof is so shaped that the resultant of the force on the container caused by pressure on the exterior surface thereof has a downward component which tends to prevent the separation of said container from the surface upon which it rests. y

Still other not less important objects, such as the provision of a container having all of the above advantages which is of such shape as to be ornamental in appearance and not easily capsized, which may be manufactured economically, according to conventional methods, and except as hereinafter described, may be used for the same purposes as conventional types of containers, will occur to persons skilled in the art irorn reading the following description taken with the accompanying drawing, it being understood that the embodiments shown and described herein are by way of example only and merely illustrate acceptable'modications of my invention coming with the scope of the claims appended hereto.

In the drawing, briefly vdescribed as follows, like `characters of references denote corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a plan view of a preferred embodirnent of my invention in the form of a right circular cone;

Figure 2 is a perspective view in elevation of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1; while Figure 3 is a sectional view taken in the plan of line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Figure 4 shows a plan view of a modification or my invention in the form of a right regular pyramid; and

Figure 5 is an elevation of a third form which my invention may assume, developed from spherical segments, and is also intended to be covered hereby.

Referring more particularly to Figures 1 to 3 inclusive of the drawing, a container in the form of a bottle is shown constructed of glass or other suitable material according to conventional methods of manufacture, such container being characterized by the fact that its exterior surface I0 is of such shape that it is practically impossible to grasp it with the fingers of either hand and lift it from the shelf or other surface upon which it rests.

In this, my preferred embodiment of the invention, the exterior surface I0 of the container proper from the edges I3 of the circular base to the top thereof indicated at I5, presents a single uninterrupted smooth exterior surface, the same being in the form of a right circular cone offering no protrusions which may be grasped to lift the container when it is desired to gain access to its contents. In order to obtain the best results, the exterior surface I0 must be smooth and the angle which the exterior surface I0 forms with the base or bottom should be such that the resultant of the forces on the container caused by pressure of the fingers against said exterior surface Ill thereof has a downward component of force which tends to prevent the separation of the container from the surface upon which it rests.

The cover piece II may be in the form of a' stopper associated with medicine dropper, or preferably is threaded as shown in Fig. 3, so that when closed, the cover piece forms a perfectly smooth continuation of the exterior surface IG. If desired, the cover piece II may be provided with a plurality of shallow grooves I2 which are sufficient merely to permit its removal from the container but cannot be grasped by pressure of the fingers to pick it up.

The bottom of the container in the form of a bottle, as shown at I4, may be slightly concave in the center terminating in edges I3 which Will have a tendency to create a suction beneath the bottle, particularly if the surface upon which it rests is damp or smooth as in the case of a glass topped shelf or other surface.

'Ihis also makes it more diiiicult to pick the bottle up with the fingers of either hand alone. The inside of the container is shown with a bottom I6 which is lower in the center than at the sides so that when medicine dropper is used, all of the contents may be consumed without waste due to residue.

It is also to be noted that due to the unique shape of the container, if the same should be. come capsized in some manner, it will roll on its exterior surface IIJ upon the surface on which it rests in a small circle having the position of the top I5 as an approximate center, so that it is less likely to roll over the edge of the shelf, table, or other surface and fall therefrom with consequent breakage and loss of the contents. This is obviously an advantage in case of poisonous substances which may have a harmful effect upon furniture, clothing and the like with which the same may come in'contact as a protection to the same, and in the case of an expensive perfume, as a preservation of the contents thereof.

In Fig. 4 a modification is shown in which the same results may be obtained by a container IIl in the shape. with its cover I I, .of a right regular pyramid having a triangular base, it being understood however, that all of the advantages above outlined are present whether the base is rectangular or polygonal, regular or not, providing the exterior surface including the cover, is sufliciently smooth and is at such an angle to the base that the resultant ofl vthe force on the exterior of said container caused by pressure of the fingers on the sides thereof has a downward component of force which tends to prevent the separation of the container from the surface upon which it rests.

It should be understood however, that in order to obtain such results, the cover piece II in each instance should form a perfectly smooth-continuation of the exterior surfaces i9 whatever their dimensions or number.

Another form which my invention may assume is shown in Fig. 5, in which the principle is the same but the exterior surface I@ is developed clear from the above description. The container in any of its forms is of such a unique shape as to give notice that it is of a type containing a poisonous substance, when grasped accidentally in daylight or darkness, or, by the blind, and in addition cannot be lifted with one hand. In order to separate it from the shelf or other surface upon which it rests, it must rst be moved to the edge thereof by sliding it with one hand over the surface, and then it may be grasped by the fingers of the same or of the other hand by sliding it farther beyond the edge of the surface where bottom of the container becomes exposed.

The advantages are obvious. The container may be used in hospitals, clinics, or the like, or in the common household wherever it becomes desirable to indicate unmistakably the nature of the contents of the container, thereby preventing the use thereof in an inadvertent manner.

Having described my invention in detail, I desire it to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the concept which I seek to cover by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a container for pharmaceutical preparations having a base, an indicating outer bounding surface upstanding vertically from the base, any vertical cross section of which bounding surface is substantially parabolic or hyperbolic in form whereby the resultant force on the hand effected by grasping any part of said bounding surface with the hand is upwardly along the said surface to thereby direct the hand upwardly along the surface. L

2. In a container for pharmaceutical preparations having a base, an indicating outer bounding surface extending vertically uniformly un1 wardly and inwardly from the base to an apex, the apex angle of any vertical cross section of which surface is of a magnitude not less than approximately 60 degrees.

3. In a container for pharmaceutical preparations having a base, an indicating outer bounding surface `extending uniformly upwardly and irlwardly from the base to an apex, the apex angle of any vertical cross section of which surface is of such magnitude that the resultant force on the hand effected by grasping the said surface withvthe hand is upwardly along said surface to thereby direct the hand upwardly along the surface.

tions having a base', a conical indicating outer bounding surface upstanding from the base, the apex angle'of said conical surface being of such magnitude that the resultant force on the hand effected by grasping the said conical surface with the hand is upwardly along said conical surface to thereby direct the hand upwardly along. the

conical surface.

5. In a, container for pharmaceutical preparations having a base, a conical indicating outer bounding surface upstanding from the base, the apex angle of which surface is of magnitude not less than approximately 60 degrees.

6. In a container for pharmaceutical preparations having a base, a pyramidical shaped indicating outer bounding surface, upstanding froml the base, the apex angle of which bounding surface is ofmagnitude not less than approximately 60 degrees.

7. In a container for pharmaceutical preparations having a base; a pyramidical shaped indicating outer bounding surface upstanding from the base, the apex angle of said bounding surface being of such magnitude that the resultant force on the hand effected by grasping the said bounding surface with the hand is upwardly along said surface to thereby direct the hand upwardly along the surface.

8. In a container for pharmaceutical preparations having a base, an indicating outer bounding surface extending uniformly upwardly and inwardly from the base to an apex, the apex angle of said surface being of such magnitude that the resultant force on the hand effected by grasping the said surface with the hand is upwardly along the surface, said base being slightly concave in the center thereof.

4. In a container for pharmaceutical prepara-l 9. In a container for pharmaceutical preparations having a base and comprising a receptacle portion, a closure for said receptacle portion, an indicating outer bounding surface including said closure upstanding vertically from the base, any vertical cross section of which bounding surface is substantially parabolic or hyperbolic in form whereby the resultant force on the hand effected by grasping any part of said bounding surface with the hand is upwardly along said surface to thereby direct the hand upwardly along the surface, said outerv bounding surface being smooth and unobstructed throughout its extent.

10. In a container for pharmaceutical prepa-rations having a base and comprising a receptacle portion and a closure therefor, an indicating outer bounding surface including said closure extending uniformly upwardly and inwardly from the base to an apex, the apex angle of any vertical cross section of which surface is of such magnitude that the resultant force on the hand efffected by grasping the said surface with the hand is upwardly along said surface to thereby direct the hand upwardly along the surface, said. outer bounding surface being comparatively smooth and unobstructed throughout its extent.

11. In a container for pharmaceutical preparations having a base, an indicating outer bounding surface extending uniformly upwardly and inwardly from the base to an apex, the apex angle of any vertical crosssection`of which surface thereby direct the hand upwardly along the surface, said outer bounding surface being comparatively smooth and unobstructed throughout its extent.

GUsTAv P'niLiP HOFMANN. 

